Topic Studios on ‘A Real Pain’ Lessons and Bringing ‘Splitsville’ to Cannes

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Initially, Topic Studios found great success in their inaugural year of operation with the Oscar-winning film Spotlight. Approaching a decade later, they returned to the Oscars ceremony with A Real Pain, a small yet mighty production by Jesse Eisenberg.

The movie dominated the award circuit for more than a year, beginning with a rousing applause at the Sundance Film Festival (remarkable since American viewers usually remain seated), ultimately resulting in an Academy Award victory for Kieran Culkin in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Momentously, Topic found itself in a proof-of-concept stage, having spent the last decade as a preferred destination for filmmakers, showcasing movies such as Spencer and Ingrid Goes West. Despite most distributors turning down A Real Pain, Topic decided to independently finance the production. Eventually, they sold it to Focus Features, right out of Park City.

As a gamer, let me tell you, that story was an absolute masterpiece! The script was mind-blowing, yet there were many who doubted its commercial potential. Truth be told, we’re all about hits here, and if only we had a crystal ball to make things easier. Now, we’re partnering with Eisberg again for his next project – a musical comedy with A24. In the spirit of honesty, I wanted to build a company that truly supports artists, as there aren’t many like-minded entities in this industry today.

Following a successful year, Topic will be present at the Cannes Film Festival, showcasing “Splitsville”, the newest production from directors Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin, with whom they previously collaborated on their 2019 comedy, The Climb. Prior to the event, Topic’s CEO, Bradley Bloom, discussed the pleasure of working with these filmmakers again and strategies for thriving as an independent studio amidst the fluctuations in larger Hollywood, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

After going through an incredible year with A Real Pain, now that you’ve moved past it, could you share some insights or takeaways from this experience?

We’d rather jumpstart the project as early as possible to have a significant impact on its direction and success, creatively and financially speaking. Surprisingly, it turned out to be more than we initially anticipated – an ideal blend of elements we desired for our project. Intuitively, we felt this was the right choice, and Jesse, with his unique storytelling approach that seemed deeply personal to him, further confirmed our instincts. We believed if we could successfully bring the script to life, this project would become a profound masterpiece. While there’s always a risk in execution, I am optimistic about our abilities to deliver on our vision. It continually amazes me how movies manage to thrive despite the numerous factors that could potentially derail their production.

How do you decide what to produce and finance and what to just finance?

Initially, since it takes around two years to create one’s own slate, we primarily focused on financing. Fortunately, our first movie was Spotlight, which boosted our reputation and provided us with a modicum of credibility. Our preferred method is usually to produce and finance films. Sometimes, we fully finance projects, like A Real Pain, while other times, depending on the project’s nature or its scale, we co-finance with others. We enjoy producing because it allows us to maintain control over the production process. I am ready to invest more if we can have more influence over the outcomes and safeguard the filmmakers’ vision. While we are comfortable taking a less active role, relying on someone else’s abilities can be challenging at times.

How do you keep your strong business ties with filmmakers intact, especially as they and their projects evolve over time?

As a game enthusiast diving into the world of film production, I’ve learned that backing emerging talents is crucial for success. With the major studios favoring established IP and smaller players losing ground, I sensed an opportunity to fill the gap. Mike and Kyle were known for their hit game The Climb, so we signed a first-look deal with them to provide them a vast creative playground. Our positive experience working together on A Real Pain made us eager to reunite with Jesse for his next project. Molly Gordon, who we worked with on her directorial debut, Theater Camp, is also part of our growing roster. Now, we’re collaborating with her again on a film titled Peaked with A24. We prioritize discovering and nurturing talent early in their careers to foster long-term growth. To me, having Jesse choose to return for another project with us is the ultimate validation of our approach.

For a number of years, your business has been active amidst the rise and fall of various independent studios. What strategies do you employ to maintain stability in your operations?

Prudent financial management: We understand that the nature of our business involves a certain level of risk, and not every endeavor will yield positive results. However, we’ve been lucky to see more successes than failures. Our confidence lies in our ability to select projects that we believe will be both creatively impressive and commercially viable. We strive to design deals that offer substantial financial gains while minimizing potential losses. It’s essential to acknowledge that there’s no such thing as all reward with zero risk, but we meticulously assess opportunities and choose how to approach them. We believe we have a keen sense of the market trends and audience preferences. Success requires conviction, and the best strategy is to love the material and trust in the people you collaborate with. I’ve endeavored to avoid taking unnecessary risks, so that in the event of success, it’s even more enjoyable, and if a project falls short, we can absorb the losses without significant damage.

In situations where we function as standalone financiers and occasionally collaborate with significant film studios for distribution, how do we adapt when the studio’s organizational structures and directives shift?

Predicting exactly where a pendulum will swing at any given moment can be challenging due to the constant fluctuations in company policies, consumer preferences, and market trends. With people and tastes changing over time, it’s almost impossible to account for all variables. The best approach is to concentrate on what you can control. If you aim to sew a specific design for a particular customer or market at a certain moment, or try to predict the perfect timing, it’s an unachievable goal. Therefore, the only realistic strategy seems to be maintaining faith in your work and confidence that you will find suitable places for these endeavors, even though the individuals involved may change or their preferences might evolve.

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2025-05-15 11:25